Table of Grace makes home in Bonita Springs

NORI ST. PAUL

3:00 AM, Jul 7, 2012

Nori St. Paul/Banner Correspondent (3)
Chris Thompson, center, Lead Pastor at Table of Grace Church in Bonita Springs leads the congregation in a song. Thompson performs in the church's rock 'n roll band.

Chris Thompson, Lead Pastor and band member at Table of Grace Church.Nori St. Paul/ Banner Correspondent

Members of the Table of Grace congregation listen to Pastor Chris Thompson deliver the Sunday sermon.

On a slow sultry Sunday in a backyard on the Imperial River in Bonita Springs nine and a half months ago, a friendly hippy chef, a good looking rock 'n' roll pastor, a preppy Naples lawyer and a soulful (geek) tech consultant, who all once attended the same North Naples church, started their own Church. The four men are now enjoined as the passionate leaders of a new and laid back non-denominational congregation called Table of Grace Church.

The whole idea, according to this quartet of 30- to 40-something elders of the Christian nonprofit, came from a divine purpose they each felt as a calling that brought them together to serve God.

"We each knew we had a calling, and we knew it was for a church in Bonita Springs," said lead pastor Chris Thompson on a recent Sunday before the 10 a.m. service as the church filled with casual fanfare. Sporting collar length hair and a goatee, dressed in blue jeans, a short-sleeved cotton button down and flip flops and wearing a shark's tooth on a choker of beads doesn't detract from Thompson's serious message about being grounded in biblical principles.

"When we came together, we felt it was a divine purpose. We knew it was a calling to come here to Bonita Springs and start this church. That's what we did, and we believe that we are being guided by God, and the Bible as the word of God."

Thompson's delivery is a refreshing spin on a historical message in some way because Thompson is invigorating in his whole demeanor. All the men are, in fact, deeply passionate if not zealous, yet seem balanced, anchored in their quest to build upon the church they started.

"That first service we had on the river was Sept. 11, 2011, and that was the only time we had the service actually outside. But that's how strongly we felt we had to do this, to own the lost here in Bonita Springs.It seems like it just came together."

And together it is, now. Scott Duval is the Executive Elder (administration) of Table of Grace, and he says that after their backyard debut, they moved for a while into meeting at the Food Pantry at the emergency Assistance Office in Bonita, and then to their current home in the Gateway Building on Old 41 at Bonita Beach Road. More on the conservative side, casual in shorts, a polo shirt and canvas shoes, Duval works in Bonita as a lawyer, but none of the men lives there. One of the goals of the church, says Duval, is to "leave the formalities behind and live a God-centered life based on the teaching of the Bible. And, importantly, we hold each other accountable through our various small groups, which we encourage people to join. We are driven by the Holy Spirit," he said.

Groups that meet regularly outside of the Sunday service cater to intimate settings for men, women and children. Of the men's group Duvall attends called Pastor Dad, he said, "One of our passions at Table of Grace is all about equipping men to be the Godly leaders of their household as God intended."

One for women that is currently meeting is called the Fear Study.

Elder Don Splain is a chef by trade and was quick to add, "Yeah, but it's (the men's group) not about going home and saying 'It's my way or the highway.'The men offer a sincere and friendly laugh. Splain oversees outreach and hospitality."My wife and I host everybody at our house on Sundays after service for community gatherings," said Splain.

More on the quiet, pensive side is Johnny Ceto, elder and youth pastor for Table of Grace. Ceto said the children have group activities that are God-centered and fun."Today after service we are leaving on a six-day mission trip to Miracle Lake in Etowah, Tenn."

The congregation of some 60 people and growing met on a recent Sunday for the 10 a.m. upbeat service lead by Thompson, who also plays guitar and sings in their full Christian band. He speaks of God and Jesus openly and with an inviting passion. Formerly he served as youth minister for the church where the men met in Naples.

While not aligned with any specific religion, TOGC is very God centered and has a goal to "create disciples in the name of Jesus."

Thompson is confident the congregation at Table of Grace will continue to grow."The idea is, it's kind of a church without walls. I mean, this is just a building," he says as he motions by sweeping his arms."The church is the people that make up the building and what they do in response to what God has done for them, meaning there's a whole outside world that needs to feel His touch and if people are not going to do it, it's not going to happen."

"I mean, God uses people in that manner," said Thompson.

Table of Grace Church meets each Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Gateway Building at 27975 Old 41 Rd. Suite 101 (NE Corner of Bonita Beach Rd. across from Trackside Doughnuts) in Bonita Springs.